Electric clock.



No. 718.610 PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903..

W. J. 'DUDLEY.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1902.

0 MODEL.

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I/VALTER J. DUDLEY, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SEECIFICA'I'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,610, dated January 20, 1903.

Application filed August 20, 1902. Serial No. 120,287. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. DUDLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ba'ngor, in the county of Penobscot and State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Independent Electric Clocks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to an independent electric clock of that class in which the clockwork mechanism is operated by an electric current, the object of the invention being to simplify the construction and render the clock more durable and accurate in operation.

The clock embodying the invention belongs to that class in which a time-measuring vibrator, such as a pendulum, is employed, combined with means for giving the said pendulum an impulse at alternate beats, so as to counteract the work done by the pendulum and keep the same in motion, the impulsegiving means being controlled by the armature of an electromagnet, the circuit through which is suitably controlled to produce the necessary movements of the armature. In the clock embodying the invention the impulse-arm, as it may be called, is directly controlled by the armature and may be mounted thereon, the impelling force employed being a spring, and the said arm is locked against the stress of the said spring through the action of the armature and a locking-catch and released through the action of the pendulum, so as to act upon said pendulum after it has thus been released. The same operation that locks the impulse-arm breaks the circuit, permitting the armature to be retracted, and the movement of the impulsearm in giving the impulse closes the circuit, causing the armature to be attracted, such movement acting on the impulse-arm to lock the same, so that it will not act on the pendulum in the return movement thereof. The pendulum in its vibrations controls a pawl or other suitable impelling device, through which motion is imparted to a train of clockwork mechanism with which the hands are connected. 7

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a clockmovement embodying the invention,with portions of the frame broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the construction of the impelling-arm, the armature, the contactspring, &c. Fig. 4 is a detached view showing one of the slots in the magnet-poles. Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing the impelling-arm and contacts arranged to be placed alongside of instead of upon the armature and operated by a tongue projecting transversely therefrom, Fig. 6 being a section on line m y of Fig. 5.

Referring to-Fig. 2, the pendulum a is shown as supported in the usual manner at the back of the frame and in swinging acts upon an arm I), pivotally supported at the top of the frame being herein shown as connected with a rock-shaft 71 having bearings at its ends in the front and rear plates A and A The arm I) is, shown as provided at its lower end with an offset portion 193, against which the pendulum a, strikes in its movement in one direction, thus causing a rocking movement of the shaft 19 In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the arm I) is arrested in an intermediate position by means of a stop b the pendulum swinging free during the remainder of'its oscillation and again engaging the projection b when it has reached its intermediate point. This construction, however, is not essential, as the arm might be allowed to take the full motion of the pendulum in some cases, as will be hereinafter described. The momentum of the pendulum acting through the arm I) will oscillate the rock-shaft, to which is connected a weighted arm 5 having pivotally connected therewith a pawl 6 adapted to act on a ratchet-wheel c, which is thus moved one step each time the rock-shaft 19 returns to its normal position under the influence of the weighted arm b The stop b or the equivalent therefor controls the return movement of the rock-shaft 6 so that the ratchetwheel a will be moved forward an equal distance each time it is engaged by the pawl b. The energy of the pendulum expended at each beat to the right thereof in lifting th weighted arm 19 is not fully restored by said arm in the movement to the left, as a certain amount is used in driving the clock-wheels, and other well known causes consume the energy of the pendulum also, and it is necessary, therefore, in order to keep the pendulum in operation that it should receive an assisting impulse at regular intervals. As herein shown, this assisting impulse instead of acting directly upon the pendulum itself is arranged to assist the pendulum by acting on the rock-shaft 17 during the beat of the pendulum in the direction to oscillate the said rock-shaft. This is accomplished through the agency of an impulse-arm d, the motive power of which is a spring, as will be hereinafter described, the said arm acting on the rock-shaft b by coming in contact with an arm extending radially from said rock-shaft and having a transverse projection Z) in the path of the arm (Z. In the movement of the pendulum in the direction to raise the weighted arm 19 the arrangement is such that the impulse-arm d bears against the projection Zfland thus contributes enough energy to prevent the pendulum from being unduly retarded and to keep it in full swing. The weighted arm itself, however, neither assists nor retards the pendulum during its whole swing to the right and back, but is simply intended to give the arm and the rock-shaft and its connections a constant tendency in one direction.

The operation of the impulse-arm d is controlled by an electromagnet e, the armature e of which is shown as provided with a springsupport 6 which normally holds the said armature away from the cores a but is so adjusted that when the coils and electromagnets are energized the said armature will be brought up with a rapid snappy movement The impulse-arm d is arranged to be acte upon by the armature in such movement and is provided with a spring-support (P, which may, as herein shown, be connected directly with the armature itself, thus permitting a movement of the impulse-arm independent of that of the armature when said arm is acted uponbysaidarmature. Thesaidimpulse-arm is further controlled by means of a catch 71, which is arranged to cooperate with a hook or notch (1 the said catch normally standing in the path of said notch, but being arranged to be moved out of said path through the action of the rock-shaft 19 which is provided with a projection b for this purpose. Said notch may be supported on a spring 61 to lessen the shock and noise of locking. As herein shown, the said projection acts on a second spring 77?, connected with the spring it, so as to move the same without moving spring h when said spring is engaged by hook or notch 01 Spring 71, is, however, stronger than spring h and when engaged by projection 12 will move the free end of spring 77, out of the path of impulse-arm cl when such movement is not prevented by hook (1 The circuit for the electromagnet e is controlled by'means of a contact member f, actuated by the arm d, but independently spring supported, so as to be free from rubbing contact and also from the jar of vibration attendant upon the work of the impelling-arm in connection with the rock-shaft connections and armature. If the contact were rigidly connected with the impulse-arm, it would have to take the entire thrust of the armature and would very quickly wear out, as it is necessarily small. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the said contact member consists of a spring secured to the armature adjacent to the spring which supports the impellingarm, or it may be an extension of said spring, while the cooperating contact member 9 is supported by and insulated from the armature e", the said armature having an opening through which the contacts fand g may come together. The contact-points are provided with a shield d and in the construction shown in the above-named figures the said opening in the armature being sufficiently large to permit this shield to enter, the purpose of the shield being to cover the contactpoints and prevent dust from falling on them during the operation.

The operation of the impelling-arm is as follows: The said arm, as has been stated, is normally free to move to the right, Fig. 1, and has atendency to move in that direction through the action of the spring-support (1 so that it bears against the projection Z9 tending to turn the rock-shaft b in the direction to lift the weighted arm 61 When, therefore, the pendulum swings to the right, /it is assisted in moving the rock-shaft by the action of the impelling-arm d, which follows the projection 17 until the saidarm is arrested by the armature. At this point, however, the contact f, which follows the impelling-arm (1, reaches the contactg, thus causing the magnet to be energized, so that the armature is attracted with a sharp and sudden movement. This movement is imparted to the impelling-arm, which will not only be forced back with the armature, but will travel farther through momentum, separating the contact-points and breaking the circuit of the magnet and allowing the armature to fall back away from the magnet against the step 6 The hook 61 will also pass beyond the spring-catch h, which is then in aposition to catch under the hook for the reason that it is not acted upon by the projection 19 owing to the position to which the rock-shaft has been carried by the pendulum. The pendulum then swings back, and in such return movement of the pendulum the projection 19 will come in contact with the arm d, the projection 19 at the same time coming in contact with the spring 7L2, so that the arm d is moved away from the spring 72. and the said spring at the same time lifted, so that the said arm dis released ready to give an impulse to the pendulum.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4: the cores 6 of the magnet-coils are provided with slots 5 (shown clearly in Fig. 4:) to permit the action of the impulse-arm, which is shield is formed in the impelling-arm d, the

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supported on and directly in line with the armature. This affords a very compact and convenient construction, and while not essential is an important feature of the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the impulse-arm and contacts detached from and placed alongside the armature, the supporting-spring d of the impulse arm being secured to the same bracket as the armature-spring e the acting portions of both springs being of the same length. A tongue 25 of the armature engages the impulse-arm, so that the movement of the armature controls the arm substantially as if the latter were mounted on the armature, as before described. Contactspring fis insulated on the impulse-arm and cooperates with contact g, which is threaded in said arm.

Tongue 25 passes between said arm and spring and separates the contacts, as before described, when said arm is locked, said tongue having a coating of insulation 15 over the part that engages with the contaot-springf. This construction,while bringing a certain amount of torsion on the armature-spring, avoids the necessity for slotting the magnet-cores and renders the contacts easier of access and may in some cases be of advantage.

I claim- 1. The combination witha time-measuring vibrator of an impelling device moved in one direction by said vibrator and in the otherby a constantly-acting force as that of aweight, an impulse-arm acting directly on said impelling device against said constantly-acting force, an electromagnet controlled by said impulse-arm, an armature for said electromagnet and a locking-catch forsaid impulsearm operated by said electromagnet and said impelling device in turn, as setforth.

2. The combination with impulse-arm, of the armature to act on said arm, a contact member carried by said arm, a catch to hold said arm, a pendulum, a rocker member controlled thereby and provided with a stop, and means, such as a weight, for normally holding it in engagement therewith when not controlled by said pendulum, said impulse-arm when not controlled by its catch engaging said rocker member with a tendency to move it away from its stop, as set forth.

3. In an electric clock, the combination with the time-measuring vibrator and impulse-arm therefor, of an electromagnet and its armature to control said impulse-arm, a contact member spring-supported by said arm and operated thereby, and a cooperating contact member to control the circuit through the coils of the magnet.

4. In an electric clock, the combination with an electromagnet, of an armature for said magnet; a contact rigidly connected with said armature; a spring-supported contact also connected with said armature; an impulse-arm spring-supported upon said armature and interposed between said contacts, said impulse-arm being provided with an opening for the contact-points and means cooperating with said impulse-arm to control the movement thereof independently of the movement of the armature, as set forth.

5. In an electric clock, the combination with an electromagnet having slots or openings in the pole-pieces thereof; an armature for said electromagnet; an impulse arm mounted on said armature and interposed be-. tween the same and the said electromagnets, said arm being movable in the openings in the pole-pieces; and a pendulum also cooprating with said arm, as set forth.

6. The combination with the weighted rockshaft and pendulum cooperating therewith; of an electromagnet and its armature; an impulse-arm spring-supported on the armature and so positioned that its spring tends to force it into engagement witha projection on said rock-shaft; a circuit-controller operated by said impulse-arm for energizing said electromagnet after said impulse-arm has acted on the rock-shaft; a catch to engage and hold said impulse-arm after it has been moved by the attraction of the armature; and means connected with the rock-shaft for releasing said catch.

7. The combination with the armature of the impulse-arm supported thereon, the contact-spring supported on said arm, the cooperating contact insulated on said armature and a shield for the contacts, as set forth.

'8. In an electric clock, the combination with an impulse member controlled bya timemeasuring vibrator, of an armature to act upon said impulse member, a train of wheels, an impelling device therefor, pivoted independently of said impulse member and armature, a continuously-acting device such as a Y weight tending to move said impelling device in a direction to act on said train and means whereby said impulse member is caused to act directly upon saidim pelling device against the action of said continuously-acting device, as set forth.

9. In an electric clock, the combination with a time-measuring vibrator of an impulse member controlled thereby, rock-shaft devices actuated by said vibrator, a train of wheels, an impelling lever and pawl provided with means for moving it in a direction to act on said train and secured to said rock-shaft and a latching member for said impulse member controlled by said rockshaft devices, as set forth.

10. The combination with the impulse-arm of the contact-spring supported thereon and insulated therefrom and cooperating with a contact secured in said arm and a shield for the contacts, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER J. DUDLEY.

Witnesses:

J. H. FAHEY, J. B. DRINKWINE. 

